Tag Archives: Switzerland

On the 30th May 2012 the General Conference of the International Labour Organization reaffirmed that the right to social security is a human right and recommended that member countries should ‘establish and maintain … social protection floors … Schemes providing such benefits may include universal benefit schemes, social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, negative income tax schemes, … .’ For

This newspaper article reports on the Swiss effort to raise enough signatures to trigger a referendum on basic income. The effort is supported by high-level politicians as well as by BIEN-Switzerland. The movement needs 100,000 signatures to put the referendum on the ballot.

An initiative to establish a new federal law known as “For an unconditional basic income” [fr] was formally introduced in Switzerland in April. The idea, which consists quite simply of giving a monthly income to all citizens that is neither means-tested nor work-related, has generated commentary throughout the Swiss blogosphere. The Swiss referendum process is a system of direct democracy

As BINews already reported, on 21st April 2012, Switzerland is starting a petition for a referendum on basic income with a big party in Zurich. BINews also reported, that, last year in June, the National Council of Switzerland rejected a parliamentary initiative on unconditional basic income.

On April 21st, 2012 Switzerland is starting a petition for a referendum on a basic income with a big party in Zurich. The referendum would establish the following principles in the constitution: the confederation installs a basic income the basic income allows the whole population a dignified life and full participation the law lays down funding and amount of the

According to “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” (NZZ), the National Council of Switzerland has rejected an unconditional Basic Income. On Friday, June 17, 2011, the Council overwhelmingly rejected the parliamentary initiative of Josef Zisyadis and Katharina Prelicz-Huber. The majority had the opinion that an unconditional Basic Income would have too many risks: The social security system would offer a good safety net,

BIEN Switzerland organizes a conference on basic income at the Maison des associations, 15 rue des Savoises (18h). A documentary on basic income will be shown, followed by a discussion with the audience. Further information: http://bien-ch.ch

The Swiss initiative Initiative Grundeinkommen is focusing on preparatory operations for a referendum to launch a nationwide Basic Income. In Switzerland, federal popular initiatives are not subject to judicial review as they amend the federal constitution. Promoters of popular initiatives have 18 months to collect at least 100,000 signatures. If they succeed, the initiative is put before the Swiss citizenry in a

The Socialist Party of Switzerland (2nd party of the country in terms of seats in the Federal House of Representatives) has decided to include basic income in its new long-term platform, a platform which should inspire its action for the next decades. Furthermore, quite independently, one of Switzerland’s main trade-unions, SYNA, has also adopted a resolution asking for the implementation